Social Enterprise/ Mobile Grocer

Abstract

Rollin' Grocer is a 24 foot mobile grocery store with over 750 SKUs, providing Kansas City food deserts with access to fresh, affordable food. We partner with community centers, senior living facilities, multi-family, veterans, schools, churches and more to facilitate the selling of groceries to places where there are not close or adequate grocery stores. Ultimately, we want to have several stores across the city and nation to address the 23.5 million people who live in food deserts in the United States.

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Additional Questions

Who is your customer?

Residents of Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas who live and/or work in food deserts.

What problem does this idea/product solve or what market need does it serve?

There are many food deserts in KCMO and KCKS that by operating a full service grocery store we are able to go directly to where residents have the greatest need. We are able to partner with community organizations and residents so that people in food deserts have more access to fresh, affordable food.

What attributes will make this idea/product successful? Why do you believe that those features will create success?

Rollin' Grocer is a clean, neat and organized store. Our staff provides the superior customer service which includes getting to know the customers we serve and understanding how they shop. We carry over 760 food items and sundries which allows for a individual or family to shop for at least one week without repeating a meal. We

Explain how you (your team) will execute to make this idea/product successful? What gives you (your team) an advantage over others already in the market or new to this market?

Our team lives and works in KCMO and we are dedicated to serving this city through collectively over 80 years of experience in community development, farming, educational administration and more. Our combined talents and ties to KCMO assist us in connecting with all the entities needed to move our business forward. The advantage we have is that we not only sell fresh produce but we also sell all other grocery store items which include personal care items.

Team Leader

Natasha El-Scari

University of Missouri-Kansas City

Rollin' Grocer (RG) is Kansas City's 1st mobile grocery store. Rollin' out its first truck in early March 2016, the founders and staff are dedicated to serving the food deserts of Kansas City, Missouri as well as neighborhoods that desire our services. Our goal is simple: to bring affordable, fresh food to residents who do not have grocery stores within walking distance or a mile from their homes. We provide food in a family focused atmosphere at a price that every pocket can afford to purchase and can easily carry on a bus, bike or by foot. RG maintains a daily schedule and customers can come to the window of the truck and shop for groceries or they can come inside the store. Cash, EBT, credit and debit are welcome. We believe in community, diversity and authenticity.